adminBarcelona have leaked eight goals in their opening two official games of the season and will need a drastic improvement in defence if they are to have any chance of denying Athletic Bilbao the Spanish Super Cup.
After edging Sevilla 5-4 to win the European Super Cup last Tuesday, Barca suffered a 4-0 drubbing at Bilbao in Friday’s first leg and host the Basque side for the return tonight.
The defeat for the Spanish and European champions at the San Mames, when coach Luis Enrique fielded a weakened side, means their hopes of matching 2009’s feat of winning all six competitions they contested are hanging by a thread.
Luis Enrique has refused to throw in the towel and told a news conference on Sunday he and the players are “utterly convinced” they can turn the tie around.
If they manage it, they will prevent Bilbao lifting their first silverware since they won the Spanish Super Cup in 1984-85.
“It’s a challenge that a team of this quality is capable of meeting,” Luis Enrique told reporters.
“If we do things well we will have a chance,” said the former Barca and Spain midfielder, noting that his side regularly put four goals or more past opponents. — AFP
Online Reporter